Is Graham Coxon one of the great guitarists?

Having seen him do just that as a guest with Love, playing 'Singing Cowboy', he definitely can.

If Stephen Street thought the two were comparable in ability before Blur's first album was even complete, that's indicative that maybe they are?

 

Is this a poem?

 

I do like Graham's playing a lot. I prefer his playing pre the blur album, its a bit more detailed and refined. I've learnt a load of blur songs recently. He's a mangler is graham, notes and chords are bent all over the place, lots of dissonant notes, which can make it tricky to work out. I don't think solos are his strong point. I know he was trying to avoid the traditional guitar solo but they tend to be the weakest part of the song, more impressionistic, multitracked backwards guitars, feedback ect.....

 

I voted for incompetent, but then I've never really heard of him.

Are these guitarist league tables really necessary or interesting ?

 

You've not heard of him therefore you assume he's incompetent?

That's some weird logic.

 

Yes he has said that in interviews. With Blur he always plays to service the song and some require him just to play chordal parts and he gets bored so adds in little bends and dissonant notes here and there.

 

I don't really care about them, but I think the thread title wording is sufficient to get the curious to comment and hopefully investigate exactly why he's so revered.

 

He's an interesting guitarist, the video interview on the first page shows why. He likes to experiment and do things a bit different. I don't think anyone would claim he's the best guitarist in the world but he's done a lot of good stuff over the years. He actually makes me want to go out and buy that guitar I've been promising myself for years.

 

I can't believe there is actual discussion here regarding Noel Gallagher being on the same level of guitarist. Crazy. Butler and Marr yes but Noel???????

 

Logically, it was a clue to understanding my irreverent and stupid comment. Excuse my mad Monday morning humour. It was really a response to someone else who suggested that he was merely 'competent' .

 

I like the Smiths, and I rate Johnny Marr highly, but he's not anywhere near as amazing as many on these forums suggest, IMHO.

 

Interesting enough for you to comment on, apparently.

 

Meow!

 

Yes, Noel's just a strummer with the occasional 'will this do?' solo - I'm sure he wouldn't compare himself to Johnny Marr!

 

I like Graham's playing.

Weirdly, I see comparisons here between him and Bernard Butler whos playing I don't enjoy at all.

 

Noel is more of a songwriter & rhythm guitarist. He said he became the defacto lead guitarist becuase bonehead was bald & you can't have a bald lead guitarist. His words, not mine.

 

A very good guitarist who's not up there with the greats, but is better than Jonny Greenwood.

 

Wow, that qualifies as a response in your neck of the woods, does it?

 

Tell that to Robert Quine.

 

I'm sorry – I can see I've annoyed and upset you, with my flippancy. I apologise. But my point about guitarist league tables I think is a valid concern. And rating people ends up with them being rated against others. Can't we just discuss Coxon's approach to guitar, his technique and styles and ideas, whether people like what he does?

 

Who would have thought that a thread about Graham Coxon could inspire such aggravated discussion?! What people seem to forget is that Coxon has an art school background and is also a highly visual person, designing and drawing artworks himself. Since he also happens to be a songwriter I'm having trouble viewing him only as "guitarist". Maybe "GitARTIST" would be better

Going to listen to "Love Travels At Illegal Speeds" tonight.

 

Technically he MAY be. I really can't tell. But I don't rate him personally because I can't tell him from a million other guitarists.

Those I rate are those I know as soon as, or almost as soon as, I hear them. For EXAMPLE, and not limited to:

Jimi Hendrix
Paul Kossoff
Keith Richards
Brian May
Nels Cline
Johnny Marr
Jimmy Page
Robert Cray

These guys start playing and I know it's them.

Coxon is gifted, (he can play, I can't!) but like SO many others to my ears. So no, I don't rate HIM. I rate all of THEM (all those LIKE him) in a huge bunch of talented, but not individual, players. Sort of like all the guitarists from the huge array of big hair, spandex bands from the 80's. Almost all interchangeable in my opinion. So not great, not unique.

Not sure if I explained that properly...

 

up there with marr .... etc
great band. seems people don't think much of them on this forum sometimes ...

 

No, really he couldn't. Punk opened up the guitar to non-virtuosos. After punk hit millions of teenagers realised that they didn't need to play like Steve Howe etc in order to be in a band.

Sure some indie/alternative guitarists are better than others, that's bound to be tbe case, but don't think for a moment that Coxon et al can play blues and fast solos etc to a good standard because they can't. Noel Gallagher once said that Johnny Marr can play anything on the guitar. Well he can't. Ask him to play some genuinely difficult hard rock, metal or blues. Yes I know you're going to come back dissing those genres and saying that Coxon etc wouldn't be seen dead playing it but that isn't the point. They are not virtuoso axemen and they couldn't play those styles even if they desperately wanted to.

 

What does that even mean?